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Schedule changes improve treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Memphis, TN, May 20, 2019

Seth Karol, MD

Seth Karol, M.D., the manuscript’s first author and an assistant member of the Oncology Department

St. Jude scientists have shown that allowing more time between rounds of certain chemotherapy drugs limits their side effects and boosts their ability to kill leukemia cells.  

The team used mouse models to mirror acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. They tested the drug asparaginase with a discontinuous schedule of dexamethasone.

These drugs are more effective together but have been linked to bone damage. A discontinuous schedule of dexamethasone helps reduce the bone damage.

The schedule change limited bone damage when the two drugs were given together. The treatment was also more effective.

“This regimen is part of the backbone of ALL treatment,” said corresponding author Seth Karol, MD, of the St. Jude Department of Oncology. “These results show that we’re on the right track clinically.”

A report on this work appeared in PLoS One.

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer, sickle cell disease, and other life-threatening disorders. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. To learn more, visit stjude.org, read St. Jude Progress, a digital magazine, and follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.

 
 
 
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